Capstone Connecttag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-868365039370626682017-10-05T07:30:00-05:00TypePadMeet Mabel Opal Pear!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01156fbb1c3d970c01bb09c9fd01970d2017-10-05T07:30:00-05:002017-10-05T07:47:04-05:00We are thrilled to introduce a light-hearted, action-packed new middle-grade mystery, Mabel Opal Pear and the Rules for Spying, by debut author Amanda Hosch. Associate Editor Eliza Leahy spent some time with Amanda discussing all things spies, secrets, and suspense! Eliza Leahy: Something that stood out to me when I...Eliza Leahy

We are thrilled to introduce a light-hearted, action-packed new middle-grade mystery, Mabel Opal Pear and the Rules for Spying, by debut author Amanda Hosch. Associate Editor Eliza Leahy spent some time with Amanda discussing all things spies, secrets, and suspense!

Eliza Leahy: Something that stood out to me when I first read Mabel Opal Pear and the Rules for Spying was the strength of Mabel’s voice. Her first-person narration was sassy, funny, and also smart. Was it difficult to nail down her voice? What influenced it?

Amanda Hosch: Mabel’s voice has always been strong from the first moment she popped into my imagination. Maybe it’s because I’m really in touch with my inner 11-year-old self who loved to play spy?

Writing Mabel’s story has always been a very joyful experience for me. Of all the things I’ve written, I find it so easy to slip into Mabel’s mind and write from her point of view. She's stubborn, but her confidence in what she believes is what saves the day.

I loved mysteries as a kid and still do. In college, I took an English class about Mysteries and Detectives as Genre Literature. It was the first time I really looked at the mechanics of how the books are put together. I still think about that class many, many years later and used it when plotting MOPRS.

Another influence was my second (or third? fourth?) re-watch of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The show immerses the viewer in smart, snappy dialogue with fully developed characters, who are juggling normal problems with big issues.

EL: Mabel’s stubbornness is so relatable. As children, we all experience the frustration of being young and not being listened to by adults, but Mabel persists. Why do you think this is an important message to communicate to readers?

AH: If I wasn’t stubborn, we wouldn’t be having this interview! MOPRS was the third completed novel I wrote. It would have been easy to give up after the first or second manuscript, but I really want to be a published writer, so I kept learning, improving, and writing.

Mabel wants to figure out what’s really going on so she persists even when the nice adults, who are on her side, don’t believe her. Roy, her Agency handler, reminds her that her parents believe in her abilities. That encouragement keeps Mabel going when things get difficult.

My mom called my stubbornness “determination,” and she encouraged it, tempering with empathy, kindness, and open-mindedness. Many times, I would go off on my own to do what I thought was right. Of course, I made many mistakes, but I grew up learning to trust my own instincts, and that has served me well.

I can vividly remember several key times in my childhood when I knew either how to do something or an important bit of information, but my older brothers and father wouldn’t believe me because I was the youngest and/or a girl. It would be so frustrating to me to watch the wrong thing being done.

In fact, I actually saved one family vacation by doing what I knew was the right choice, even though I got in trouble (at first) for it.

EL: Another stubborn thing about Mabel is that she doesn’t like to share a whole lot about her personal life, even with close friends like Stanley. Was this ever a challenge as you wrote Mabel’s character?

AH: Yes. I had to fight my own instinct, which was to have her share the Pear family secret with both Stanley and Sheriff Baker. By the time the book starts, Mabel had been socially isolating herself for about a year to keep the secret so there was no way she would give it up. One of Mabel's main inner struggles was learning to trust without feeling that she was betraying her parents. In fact, her parents would have been horrified to find out that Mabel was skipping sleepovers with her friends. Mabel was also learning that friends help each other without knowing "all the facts."

EL: What was the easiest thing about writing this novel? What was most fun? What was the hardest?

AH: Since Mabel's voice was so strong, the rough draft flew out almost effortlessly. I wrote it in six weeks, and that never happens! Revising took a lot longer, of course.

The most fun was writing the Rules for a Successful Life as an Undercover Secret Agent. That combined some of my favorite things: research (on the Moscow Rules), childhood memories, and creativity.

The hardest part was waiting for the world to meet Mabel. People who are not in the publishing world may not understand all of the teamwork that goes into physically making a book: editorial guidance, copy-editing, proofreading, book designing, marketing, and so many other skills. This experience has surpassed my wildest dreams (and I'm a writer!). Look at the beautiful cover, see those fancy end pages, love those chapter headings, read that well-edited text—it's so worth the wait!

EL: Besides Mabel, who is your favorite character in the book? What do you admire about him or her?

AH: Oh, this is hard! Can I do two?

Inspector Montgomery because he's persistent. He has focus and drive. Montgomery recognizes those same characteristics in Mabel, and he praises her for them. In a sense, he's the only adult who sees Mabel for who she truly is.

Stanley because he is a genuinely good person who accepts Mabel, even as she's been withdrawing from her friends. He sticks with her. Plus, he's always prepared and, like a lot of introverts, notices the world around him. That, and he's ready to get in a bit of trouble for a good cause. Or, as Stanley would put it, "have an adventure."

EL: I was a big fan of Harriet the Spy as a kid, and I see a lot of similarities between Harriet and Mabel. Why do you think stories about secrets, spying, and mysteries seem to speak to so many young readers?

AH:It's fun and satisfying to piece together a solution from disjointed clues. Young readers are trying to make sense of their world and they notice so many things, but their observations are not always valued. Mabel and Harriet both use their power of observation and everyday objects, not fancy spy gadgets, which makes them relatable.

EL:Finally, is there anything I haven’t asked that you’d like readers to know about MOP?

Welcome To REDWORLD by A.L. Collins!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01156fbb1c3d970c01b7c90d48c8970b2017-07-19T15:43:32-05:002017-07-19T15:46:45-05:00With the launch of our Fall 2017 Capstone products, we wanted to highlight REDWORLD — an exciting new series in our all new SciFinity brand for the library market. Author A.L. Collins has created a fantastic sci-fi universe for the characters of Redworld to inhabit. Senior Editor Aaron Sautter spent...Amanda Robbins

With the launch of our Fall 2017 Capstone products, we wanted to highlight REDWORLD — an exciting new series in our all new SciFinity brand for the library market. Author A.L. Collins has created a fantastic sci-fi universe for the characters of Redworld to inhabit. Senior Editor Aaron Sautter spent some time with Collins to get an inside look into how she created the diverse characters and gritty world for this imaginative new series.

Question 1: When we approached you with the idea for writing the Redworld series, what were your first thoughts or impressions about it? What did you think about the series concept?

I loved it! One of my favorite TV series is Firefly, and the concept for Redworld was similar, but for kids. I love building new worlds, doing research and inventing languages, so this series was a lot of fun for me to work on. I couldn’t wait to get started on the stories.

Question 2: What type of books, films, or stories were inspiring to you as you wrote the Redworld books? Was there anything specific that you tried to model your stories on?

For the world itself, I did think about Firefly a lot. In that series, the characters travel through space to many different worlds. A lot of those worlds are similar to old world Earth – dusty, crowded, and on the outside, they look like they have no technology. But when things go wrong, suddenly there’s a lot of tech. Also, I was inspired by Elon Musk’s vision for terraforming Mars. I read that he has a map of a terraformed Mars in his office. I wish I could see that. The book, The Martian, also gave me some ideas for how difficult Mars might be to live on, if it weren’t terraformed for human living. For Belle’s experiences, I took a lot of ideas from my own childhood, and how it felt to be the new kid in a new town. I did a lot of moving when I was growing up, so coming into a new place, being the new kid, was something I understood well.

Question 3: The Redworld stories focus on Belle Song and her adventures on Mars. Other than Belle, who is your favorite character in the series? What qualities do you most admire about that character?

I love all the characters, because I created them. Belle is a heroine, even if she keeps getting in trouble. Maybe, especially because she gets into trouble! Ta’al is smart and intuitive. Lucas is a generous and goofy friend. But if I had to choose, my favorite character would be Melody. I love that she tries to be human, and thinks that telling bad jokes gets her closer to that goal. I love that she is a loyal friend and companion to Belle, and she’s a great protector. Whenever Belle is in need of anything, Melody just happens to have whatever she needs in one of her compartments. And just think about how cool it would be to have such an intelligent robot as your best friend!

Question 4: The Redworld books feature several multi-racial, multi-cultural, and even multi-species characters and their relationships with one another. Can you share your thoughts about the importance of showing diverse characters in literature, and especially in books for young people?

Every story I write is filled with diverse characters. When I look at the world around me, this is what I see. People come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and abilities. Why would the books that I read not reflect that diversity? It’s only logical.

When I was growing up, my family moved a lot. I lived in many different countries. To me, the world is filled with people with different faces, languages, skin, eye, and hair colors. They have different beliefs and abilities. I am not threatened by their differences. I can only be enriched by knowing more people and learning about their lives.

I am biracial. Growing up, people would ask me what I was. It was almost the first question that came out of their mouths when they met me. It made me conscious of the fact that I was different. It made me hyper-aware of these differences. It wasn’t a comfortable feeling. I would explain politely that I was half and half. Sometimes, when their questions really got to me, I would snap, “I’m human!”

It’s almost silly to say we need diversity. We have diversity. We are a diverse species. Diversity makes humanity what it is, and it doesn’t make sense if there are kids out there who are unable to find themselves reflected in their favorite stories — and reflected accurately. So, naturally, Belle lives in a diverse world. But she has the advantage of even more diversity than us, because there are aliens from different planets on Mars too. Lucky her!

Question 5: If you could visit any place on Mars from your books, where would you most like to go? What is it about that place that interests you the most?

I would trace Belle’s journey through Mars — a terraformed Mars, that is. I’d love to see the majesty of Utopia, Tharsis City, and Mount Olympus, the largest volcano in the entire solar system. I’d enjoy spending time in the quieter places like Sun City, and the farms around it. I would love to try living underground with Belle and her family, and play with the holo-projection walls, then head out to the barns to feed the turkens, the horsel and Raider the wolf-dog. I’d go for a hike with Melody through the forest on the other side of their farm. Finally, I’d like to visit the Nabian/Sulux museum – the one Belle discovered in Legacy. I want to see the enormous pillars and the ancient carvings that showed how two ancient, advanced civilizations (the Nabians and Sulux) lived in harmony.

Question 6: Can you describe your writing process? How do you approach a new story? Do you brainstorm several ideas and then organize them into a plot? Or do you have a more natural and organic approach to telling a story?

I usually start with “What if?” I could be watching TV or listening to the news, or just taking a walk. Something will jump out at me and I’ll ask myself, “What if this happened to this person?” That’s when I find my protagonist.

Then I jot down notes. I have notebooks with me everywhere I go, and I just put down whatever comes to mind. I flesh out the story by sitting down at a computer and asking questions of my protagonist. If it’s a new world, I build that. I draw pictures, write down the rules of that world — I create a ‘bible’ (a term I learned from a writing teacher once). At the same time, I start on the story. Most of the time, I let the protagonist take the lead.

For the Redworld series, I did a lot of what I usually do. But once I knew what situation Belle was going to face. I wrote out the plot in point form. Then I wrote the outline — plotting out the events chapter by chapter. Finally, I wrote out the whole story.

Sometimes, the story goes in a different direction from the outline, and that’s okay. I adjust the outline, if that happens. I like to be surprised by my characters and where they want to go. Often, I like to draw diagrams of how the story will progress. I like to use maps too, so that I can ‘see’ where the characters are at all times. The whole story plays in my head, like a movie, and that’s how I like to write it.

Question 7: Can you give us a hint about what readers can expect to see Belle and her friends experience in future books? Do you plan to expand the world and visit other parts of Mars with these characters?

I would love to see Belle go back to Earth for a visit. The trip alone would be amazing. But I’d like to see how she feels about her old home. It would be interesting to see how humans are living on the overcrowded Moon. Perhaps Belle would teach Thea how to cause mischief. And maybe, somewhere in the future, Belle might decide she really likes Lucas Walker. How would Ta’al feel when Belle focuses too much on Lucas? Belle and her friends might enter a race where they have to build their own vehicle, and this could test their friendship. Mars has much more terraforming to do as well. It might be fun to visit Pin, Belle’s new Oirryn friend, at their new home and see how life is different for them in the refugee encampment. There are so many “what ifs?” left to think about for Belle and her life on Mars.

Question 8: Thanks so much for your time. Where can readers go to find more about your writing or more about the thoughts that you’ve shared here about diversity and multi-culturism?

I have a blogwww.taknoxcollins.wordpress.comwhere I think aloud about things that intrigue me. I will soon have an author’s Facebook page, so look out for that. You can follow my dogs’ adventures on my Instagram page - @Dasiyrosevi.

Thanks so much to A.L. Collins for her amazing work on Redworld and her contribution to this blog post!

How President Obama and a 3-Year-Old Inspired Me to Write a Children’s Booktag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01156fbb1c3d970c01b8d234dd93970c2016-11-01T15:33:58-05:002016-11-01T17:24:46-05:00By guest author Rachel Ruiz In January 2012, I made a decision that would change my life. But not right away. I accepted the job as Story Development Producer for the video team at Obama for America, the campaign to re-elect Barack Obama. I had never worked on a political...Jennifer Glidden

By guest author Rachel Ruiz

In January 2012, I made a decision that would change my life. But not right away.

I accepted the job as Story Development Producer for the video team at Obama for America, the campaign to re-elect Barack Obama.

I had never worked on a political campaign before, let alone a presidential one. And while I was assured I wasn’t hired for my political prowess, but rather my 15 years of experience as a TV writer and producer, I often felt lost at sea.

But every morning, when I put that lanyard around my neck with the security badge that said Obama for America HQ Staff, I felt reinvigorated to tackle another day.

During the campaign, when we referred to President Obama, we called him POTUS. Just like on The West Wing! I thought, giddily. At home, when I talked to my husband about my day, I referred to the president as POTUS. Our daughter, who was almost 3, overheard. She became fascinated.

Did you have lunch with POTUS today? Is POTUS allergic to peanut butter? Does POTUS like red socks? And the question I got most often: When can I meet POTUS?

I hadn’t even met President Obama yet myself, but I assured her I’d see what I could do.

Then one Saturday, at a campaign rally in Milwaukee just days before the election, my daughter got her wish.

When it was over, Obama had won a second term as president, and we each got a personal thank you from him at campaign headquarters. I’ll never forget his words to us that day. He said he was proud of what we accomplished. He said if we could do this, we could do anything. He said we were all destined to do great things, whether in, or outside of politics.

I thought about the President’s words a lot in the days after the campaign. I didn’t want them to be in vain.

Within two weeks, I had completed the manuscript for my first children’s book. My husband came up with the title, When Penny Met POTUS.

Next, I shopped it around. I went to conferences and workshops. I tried to get an agent. I networked. A lot. I started to think maybe trying to be a movie star would be easier than getting a children’s book published!

Then, on September 16, 2015, as we celebrated my daughter’s 6th birthday, Capstone Young Readers made me an offer to buy my manuscript. I couldn’t have chosen a better partner than Capstone. From day one, they shared my vision and saw the potential of this book. I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished together.

When Penny Met POTUS was released on July 1, 2016, and since then, life hasn’t been the same. With my husband and daughter in tow, I hit the road, guest reading at schools, libraries and independent bookstores. The best part is always the Q&A with the kids. Sometimes they ask questions, but mostly they just want to share their own thoughts. One little girl told me she wants to be president one day. Another just wanted to introduce herself. Her name was Penny.

In early October, I received the invitation of a lifetime. I was invited to the White House for their Hispanic Heritage Month Reception. And it got even better. There would be a special opportunity to meet with President Obama. The invitation was for a plus one. I knew exactly who I needed to bring.

When my daughter and I arrived at the entrance to the East Wing on October 12, 2016, I’m pretty sure a grin from ear to ear broke across my face and remained there for the next several hours.

As my daughter and I walked down the long sunlit corridor of the East Wing, past the framed photograph collages of former presidents and first ladies, it was difficult to wrap my head around the fact that we had been invited there, as special guests. For a party. And what a party it was! The salsa music was pumping, and the buffet was stocked with empanadas, guacamole and tres leches cake. For a place I had never visited before, I immediately felt at home.

I tried as best I could to anchor myself during what I can only describe as an out of body experience, when I looked at my daughter and she immediately brought me back down to earth. She was not grinning. In fact, she was getting a little cranky. She was tired from waiting in line. Her tights were itchy. She was hungry. She wanted to know how much longer until we met the president. That long? Are there any kids for me to play with here?

After some juice and chips and salsa, her mood improved considerably.

Then we headed to the Red Room. After waiting in another line, we were up next. It was our turn. Someone opened the doors to the Blue Room, and there they stood: President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Someone announced us: Rachel Ruiz, children’s book author, and her daughter Macy, and we were ushered in. As my feet started to leave the ground again, President Obama bent down to greet my daughter. She brought her lovey, a stuffed pink puppy.

“Who’s this?” the President wanted to know.

Now it was my daughter that couldn’t wipe the grin off of her face. After a few star struck seconds, she responded, “Peter.”

I spoke with the president and vice president briefly. Then we took our picture, and in a flash, the moment was over. We said our good-byes, and we were escorted to the next room.

When Macy Met POTUS – and VPOTUS -- was in the books.

And speaking of books, President Obama signed a copy of When Penny Met POTUS to my daughter!

He wrote To Macy – Dream big dreams!

I’d say he captured the theme of the book pretty well, yes?

About an hour later, the party was over, and it was time to leave. My daughter looked up at me. Do we really have to? I want to stay here forever.

Yes, the White House has that effect.

I told her, study hard, work hard and maybe you can live here for eight years when you get just a little older.

After working for President Obama in 2012, Rachel Ruiz was inspired to write her first children’s book,When Penny Met POTUS,which was released July 2016. Rachel is a veteran TV writer and producer, most recently for Oprah Winfrey. She lives in Chicago with her husband and their daughter. Click here for more info: www.rachelruizbooks.com

Frightening Reads!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01156fbb1c3d970c01b7c8a52b4a970b2016-10-21T07:32:00-05:002016-10-21T07:32:00-05:00We have no shortage of spooky books in our repertoire at Capstone. We have funny-scary books and jump-up-and-scream scary books. We have scary books starring Scooby-Doo, Catwoman, and a young Sherlock Holmes. We have books that cover real-life haunted houses and folk lore and books that star vampires, sea monsters,...Eliza Leahy

Meet the Author, Caighlan Smithtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01156fbb1c3d970c01b7c885a833970b2016-08-10T14:16:41-05:002016-08-10T14:17:58-05:00Today we invite Caighlan Smith to our blog to talk about her recently released novel, Children of Icarus. This coming-of-age adventure has a haunting premise inspired by Greek mythology. With danger around every turn and fast-paced action, readers have found this book hard to put down! It is Clara who...Eliza Leahy

Today we invite Caighlan Smith to our blog to talk about her recently released novel, Children of Icarus. This coming-of-age adventure has a haunting premise inspired by Greek mythology. With danger around every turn and fast-paced action, readers have found this book hard to put down!

It is Clara who is desperate to enter the labyrinth and it is Clara who is bright, strong, and fearless enough to take on any challenge. It is no surprise when she is chosen. But so is the girl who has always lived in her shadow. Together they enter. Within minutes, they are torn apart forever. Now the girl who has never left the city walls must fight to survive in a living nightmare, where one false turn means a certain dead end.

We were excited to hear more about the compelling plot straight from the source. We were almost as excited to learn that Caighlan is passionate about bad puns and dessert, like the entire trade editorial team (with a couple of notable exceptions).

Let's start at the beginning. Where did you get the idea for your YA novel, Children of Icarus?

I’ve been a huge fan of Greek mythology since before I even knew how to spell “mythology.” Children of Icarus is heavily inspired by Greek myths, especially in its labyrinthine setting and the creatures inhabiting said setting. I’m also a lover of survival books, shows, video games, comics, etc. That genre definitely had a hand to play in the story-crafting process. Oh, as did my love of (bad) puns, but that comes up later.

We are HUGE fans of bad puns here, so you fit in well. We’re curious: what books and/or authors inspired you most as you wrote Children of Icarus?

Classical books and classical authors (Aeschylus, Ovid, Homer, etc). Also maybe a little bit of Shakespeare? I’m talking strictly plot inspiration here, not writing style. You won’t find “thou” or “thee” in the book—and you have my sincerest apologies for this oversight on my part. As for a more modern inspiration, that would be Lord of the Flies.

Do you have a favorite character in Children of Icarus. If so, who is itand why?

As clichéd as it might be, the protagonist is my favorite. She may not be of the Instant YA Badass breed (and I adore those characters as much as the next YA reader), but she’s dear to me. In writing COI, I wanted to really delve into the mind of my protagonist, to get into that raw, private way we interpret the world on a day to day basis—except her thoughts would revolve a little less around “what should I wear today?” and more “what awful horrific monstrosity will I encounter today?”. In endeavoring to write a novel with a nightmarish setting, I really wanted to do justice to how an everyday teenager might react in that nightmare. I also wanted to explore the development of a young person forced into that situation. Does she shut down, does she push through, or does she do something else entirely? What will it cost her, specifically, to survive? The protagonist is my favorite character not just because she answered those questions, but because of the way she answered them. And the way she continues to answer them. (Book 2 is in the works!!)

Without giving anything away, do you have a favorite scene?

Can the cover be my favorite scene? I really love the cover. Seriously though, I have a bunch of favorites, but three stand above the rest. The first comes near the beginning of the book, the second near the end. They’re similar, and they might not seem that significant, but they mean a lot to the protagonist so they mean a lot to me (and those are the only hints you’re getting!). My other favorite isn’t really a scene, but I think it still counts, and it literally comes at the very end of the book.

You describe yourself as a YA fantasy author. What appeals to you about the fantasy genre?

The thing that appeals to me most about writing fantasy is that I can basically do whatever I want in a story and my excuse can be: magic. That dead character just came back to life? Magic. That cat just grew wings and is now your favorite flying familiar? Magic. That villain sporadically combusted just before she was supposed to destroy the world? Magic. None of this is to say there’s magic in Children of Icarus . . . or is there?

Have you considered exploring other genres in your writing?

Totally! For instance, I love psychological stuff—because I can do whatever I want in a story and my excuse can be: it’s all in their head.

When and where do you most enjoy writing?

I used to write in coffee shops, even though I don’t like coffee or crowded shops. The former makes me nauseous, the latter distracts me. So when it eventually occurred to me that hey, I could be waaaaay more productive at home, that is where I went. To sum it up, I like writing at my desk (or any surface susceptible to laptops) in a room with a lot of light, usually in the morning when I get up—so, afternoon—and I keep writing until I pass out from exhaustion, Coronation Street comes on, or somebody offers me dessert.

Speaking of exhaustion or when someone offers you a dessert . . . do you have any tips or tricks for what to do when you hit a writer’s block?

Power up the mental bulldozer (I’ve heard others refer to this as a “television”). In other words, procrastinate. Clear your head, or fill it up with something else. Sleep, hang out with friends, read, go for a walk, sleep, play video games, sleep, or even sleep. When you return to the story, perhaps it’ll turn out that writer’s block was made of ice, and it’s since melted.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Sleep, hang out with friends, read, go for a walk, sleep, play video games, sleep, or even sleep. The other 80% of the time I think about writing.

Thanks, Caighlan!

— Eliza Leahy, Associate Editor

Release Day Fun!: Meet the Author, Rachel Ruiztag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01156fbb1c3d970c01b8d1fe9595970c2016-07-01T08:00:00-05:002016-06-29T08:32:27-05:00A very happy book birthday to When Penny Met POTUS, by Rachel Ruiz! To celebrate, we’ve invited Rachel to our blog this morning to answer some of our most burning questions. Penny has heard the term POTUS over and over but doesn't know what it means — and her imagination...Eliza Leahy

A very happy book birthday to When Penny Met POTUS, by Rachel Ruiz! To celebrate, we’ve invited Rachel to our blog this morning to answer some of our most burning questions.

Penny has heard the term POTUS over and over but doesn't know what it means — and her imagination runs wild! When she spends a day at the office with her mother, she asks a few questions, looks around, and tries to discover just who — or what — is POTUS!

Welcome, Rachel! We’re really excited to hear more about your perspective on the book-making process. So without further ado . . .

When I read When Penny Met POTUS, I immediately thought of what a timely story this is considering the upcoming presidential election. Was the fact that we could have our nation’s first female presidential candidate from a major party on your mind when you began writing POTUS?

I started writing the book shortly after Barack Obama won re-election in 2012. Having worked on his campaign, I felt there was a strong possibility Hillary Clinton would run for president in 2016. So yes, it was in the back of my mind when I was writing the book.

You’ve said that your idea for this book was inspired by your young daughter, who asked many questions about POTUS when you worked on President Obama’s re-election campaign. What were some of the things she was wondering about?

My daughter was three at the time, and while she knew I worked for the President of the United States, that didn't mean a whole lot to her. She would ask questions like, "Did you have lunch with POTUS today?" "Is he allergic to peanut butter?" "Does he like the color red?" But I think my favorite was something she said one day shortly after she had gotten to meet President Obama. I brought her to lunch with some friends I worked with on the campaign, after which she said, "I really like all your friends, but my favorite is President Obama."

How sweet! Speaking of sweet, the illustrations by artist Melissa Manwill add a lot of detail to what is going on in Penny’s imagination throughout the book. What is your favorite illustration in When Penny Met POTUS?

That is so hard to answer! Melissa did a phenomenal job bringing the story to life with her beautiful and vibrant illustrations. With picture books, that is such an essential part of the story. But I think my two favorites are Penny and POTUS' tea party in China Room at the White House and Penny imagining POTUS riding (literally riding) Air Force One. Okay, and one more — POTUS drinking a pot of coffee and reading the morning paper. But honestly, I love them all.

Being a debut author, were you surprised by anything in the book making process?

Yes, I was equal parts surprised, relieved, and encouraged by how incredibly collaborative the process was from start to finish. Everyone I've worked with at Capstone, and in particular my editor, Christianne Jones, has made this entire experience a dream come true.

What was the hardest part about writing this book? What was the most fun part?

The hardest part: coming up with the ending! It was important to me that it paid off for both kids and adults. The most fun part: literally everything else!

If you could have dinner with any elected official, who would it be and why?

President Barack Obama. I'm a big fan.

Why do you think it’s important for young children to begin thinking about our elected officials?

I think it’s important because our kids should know that when they are old enough to vote, they should exercise that right. Voting for the people who will be making decisions that affect them and their fellow Americans is a right not everyone around the world gets to have.

How do you think When Penny Met POTUS might help the effort?

I hope it will inspire kids to be civic minded, but beyond politics, I hope the takeaway is this: as long as you set your mind to it and work hard, you can be anything you want to be.

Thanks, Rachel!

Kick off your Fourth of July weekend by ordering your copy of When Penny Met POTUStoday!

— Eliza Leahy, Associate Editor

Meet the Author: Laura J. Burnstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01156fbb1c3d970c01bb090a7d68970d2016-06-02T09:00:00-05:002016-06-01T11:25:44-05:00In the latest book from the Bewitched in Oz series by Laura J. Burns, Zerie Greenapple refuses to let the oppressive government in Oz squander her magical power. But with fragile friendships and her own safety at stake, will Zerie ever be the witch she dreams of becoming? See the...Eliza Leahy

In the latest book from the Bewitched in Oz series by Laura J. Burns, Zerie Greenapple refuses to let the oppressive government in Oz squander her magical power. But with fragile friendships and her own safety at stake, will Zerie ever be the witch she dreams of becoming? See the Land of Oz in a new light in this thrilling fantasy series, where the truth is always shifting and the integrity of friendship is constantly challenged.

I recently had the chance to ask Laura some questions about Oz, her writing process, and magic. Bewitched in Oz and its sequel, Magic Below, are available now from Capstone Young Readers.

What is your favorite thing about Oz?

If you’ve ever read L. Frank Baum’s Oz books, you’ll know that the world he created is amazingly original and fun. Some of the books were written more than 100 years ago, but the creatures, the clockwork characters, and the wacky landscapes are still really interesting and fresh. Anything seems possible in the Land of Oz, and the only constant is that most of the people try to treat one another with respect. My favorite thing about it is that it’s a ton of fun to create more stories in such a fantastic world!

If you could visit any region of Oz, what would it be and why?

Probably the Emerald City. I’m just a city girl at heart!

What do you think are the most important themes in the Bewitched in Oz series?

That one’s easy! Friendship. Zerie, Vashti, Brink, and Tabitha are loyal to one another even when they’re not getting along. They are strongest when they work together, and weakest when they’re on their own. They are a team, and they always have one another’s backs.

Name some authors and/or books that influence you as an author.

My two biggest influences are, oddly, J.R.R. Tolkien and Jane Austen. They don’t have much in common, although it might be fun to write a book where Sauron had to take tea with Elizabeth Bennett! But they’re the authors that most spoke to me when I was a teen. From Tolkien, I learned how important it is to build an entire world when you’re writing fantasy. It’s not enough to make up a story; you need to make up the whole history of your imaginary country. Otherwise you won’t know what is driving your characters. From Austen, I learned how important it is to have strong characters. Her characters are so three-dimensional and complex that when you finish an Austen novel, you feel as if you know everyone in it.

If you could have a magical ability, what would it be and why?

I think I’d like to have the ability to stop time for a while. Sometimes you just need an extra few minutes in the day, and if I could make the rest of the world stop while I finished a book or took a nap, that would be great!

What does a typical day in your creative life look like?

There is no typical day! Some writers like to stick to a routine, but I’ve never managed to do that. I have days when I spend 14 hours at the computer and write several chapters. Then there are days when I can’t manage more than a paragraph. What I’ve learned is that I can’t stress over the days when the writing isn’t happening. Sitting and staring at a blank page is useless. If the words aren’t coming, I need to get up and take a walk, or run errands, or read some mindless gossip online. Eventually the ideas bubble back up to the surface, and then I get back to work.

What are some of your favorite tips for getting out of a writing or creative rut?

Ooh, I just gave some in that last answer! Another one of my favorite ways to get out of a rut is to take a shower. I’m not even kidding—it’s as if the water jolts my brain back into working. (Taking a bath works, too. Or sitting in a jacuzzi. Or swimming in the ocean. Basically, it’s all about water.)

Who is your favorite Bewitched in Oz character?

The Glass Cat. Because come on, she’s awesome.

Thanks, Laura!

— Eliza Leahy, Associate Editor

Aches and Pains and Finger Rolls Down Memory Lanetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01156fbb1c3d970c01bb08bdaab9970d2016-02-22T12:21:06-06:002016-02-22T12:21:06-06:00This morning, I sorta feel like Leonardo DiCaprio looked after going a few rounds with that voracious grizzly bear in The Revenent. No, I wasn’t shotgunning around in the woods this weekend—I was firing jumpshots in a local Mankato basketball tournament. It’s been about three years since I’ve gotten up...Amanda Robbins

This morning, I sorta feel like Leonardo DiCaprio looked after going a few rounds with that voracious grizzly bear in The Revenent. No, I wasn’t shotgunning around in the woods this weekend—I was firing jumpshots in a local Mankato basketball tournament.

It’s been about three years since I’ve gotten up and down a court, and … heavens to Betsy … basketball’s a brutal sport! The jostling on the boards, the hand-checking defense on the perimeter, the hacking and fouling and elbowing and gouging and charging and thumping. Honestly. My knee feels (and sorta looks) like a grapefruit was somehow injected into it. My lower back is that slab of slaughterhouse beef Rocky punched in the movies. My hamstrings are plucked, and my calves are mooing. My thumb muscles hurt.

But, oh … the memories it shook loose.

First of all, the muscle memory. I started wearing glasses daily soon after I started editing full time here (thanks Capstone), but of course I wasn’t going to wear them on the court because I’m too cool for that. So basically I couldn’t see. But it was nice to be able to launch a couple 25-foot three-pointers nonetheless—and know the moment I released the ball if it was going in or not just by the feel of the ball leaving my fingertips. The dribbling and the passing stay with you, too, pretty much, even if the speed leaves. It was kind of like driving a long lost car, but with less horsepower than you remember. Yep, that’s exactly what it was like. My 1976 AMC Matador, 40 miles an hour, pedal to the floor.

Then there’s the memory of games gone by. The memories of late-season February games, and the heady feel of those heartbreaking tourney games of March. I spent so much of my youth sweating those games, those moments.

Not all of the basketball moments in my memory included me on the court. That is, I loved watching games, too. One of the most memorable teams I fondly recall is Dream Team, the first collection of USA basketball pros ever to take the court at the Olympics. Magic and Bird and Jordan. Barkley and Ewing and Robinson. Drexler and Mullin and Pippen. Stockton to Malone. Christian Laettner. Ha.

That Dream Team grabbed the entire world’s attention for a couple weeks of the summer of 1992 in Barcelona. And I’m happy to say that I’ve recently been on a project at Capstone that recaptures that moment in time.

Written by Twin Cities-based writer Brandon Terrell and illustrated by Eduardo Garcia out of Mexico City, the Sports Illustrated Kids Time Machine Magazine: Harmony and Hoops title is Capstone’s time-travel take on the best basketball team ever assembled. Terrell’s writing is humorous and adventurous and basketball-savvy, and Garcia’s illustrations are illuminating and amusing.

Newly released, the entire Time Machine Magazine set arrives just in time for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Other historical fiction titles feature Jesse Owens’ epic sprints and jumps in 1936 Berlin, Nadia Comaneci’s gymnastical perfect tens in 1976 Montreal, and Florence Griffith Joyner’s bursts of speed and style in 1988 Seoul.

Please do two things for me? Pick up this set today. And excuse me while I grab some acetaminophen.

-Nate LeBoutillier, Capstone Editor

Knighthood, Martial Arts, and Bilbo Baggins: A Conversation with Douglas Gibson, Author of Tales of a Fifth-Grade Knighttag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01156fbb1c3d970c01b7c80ab72c970b2016-01-22T07:33:00-06:002016-01-22T07:33:00-06:00Equal parts fantasy, wit, and adventure, Tales of a Fifth-Grade Knight, by Douglas Gibson, is a middle-grade modern hero's journey. When Knight begins, Isaac Thompson is just your average fifth grader playing the part of a porcupine in the Castle Elementary School play. But when Isaac's little sister Lily goes...Eliza Leahy

Equal parts fantasy, wit, and adventure, Tales of a Fifth-Grade Knight, by Douglas Gibson, is a middle-grade modern hero's journey. When Knight begins, Isaac Thompson is just your average fifth grader playing the part of a porcupine in the Castle Elementary School play. But when Isaac's little sister Lily goes missing from their school's creepy basement, he and his best friends Max and Emma set out on a heroic mission to find her. Their journey takes them into the Underground, a mysterious subterranean realm that lurks beneath their school. There they encounter an army of spear-wielding rats, a talking human-sized bat, and a thumb-nosed prison guard. Their biggest problem, though, is this: humans who stay in the Underground too long transform into weird, unpleasant creatures and are forced to work for the horrible Elf King. Can Isaac and his crew escape the Underground before it's too late for them to ever return home?

Curious to learn more about his writing process and influences, we recently asked author Douglas Gibson a few questions.

Capstone Connect: The plot of Tales of a Fifth-Grade Knight has many zany situations, characters, and settings, starting with the Underground. How did you come up with the idea for your book?

Douglas Gibson: My wife actually came with the title. My son Griffin and I were into boffering at the time, which is where you do medieval-type fighting with foam-padded weapons. And my wife thought it would be fun to write a book about a kid who did the same thing, and imagined himself as a knight in real life and approached situations at school with a chivalric mindset. Some of that idea ended up in the book, in the character of Max, but I decided I wanted to write a story where an ordinary kid (like I was at that age) somehow wound up actually getting knighted, and Tales ended up being the (admittedly implausible) explanation of how that could happen.

CC: What does a typical writing session look like for you?

DG: I have four different types of writing sessions: dreaming-up/outlining, rough drafts, edits, and polishing. During the outlining phase, I outline my story again and again with increasing amounts of detail. In the process, I’ll have other documents open on my computer to type down ideas, characters, useful items, plotting questions, and snippets of dialogue that occur to me, so there’s a lot of switching back and forth and stopping and starting. I write my rough draft by hand using a pen and paper, mostly because my handwriting is so bad that going back and reading what I’ve just written is difficult and painful. (This prevents me from spending time editing and polishing what I’ve just written before I’m done with the scene or chapter I’m working on.) I print out the rough draft and edit by hand as well, for much the same reason. Polishing, which just means cleaning up the language, punctuation and sharpening the dialogue and so forth, I do on the computer. I’ll do a half hour of any of these sessions at a time, take a short break (sitting is bad for you!), and then do another half hour, then take a longer break, and then repeat for as long as I have time for.CC: If you could have a different job for one day, what job would you have?DG: If I could just magically acquire the necessary experience and skills, I think I’d like to be a martial-arts movie actor, like Jackie Chan or Donnie Yen. Or maybe someone who writes and draws graphic novels, like Kazu Kibuishi or Kean Soo.

CC: What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not writing?

DG: Besides reading, I just like to spend time with my family. And play video games with Griffin.

CC: If you could have a meal with one fictional character, who would it be and why?

DG: Bilbo Baggins. I’m pretty sure the food would be amazing, and there would be lots of it.

CC: Do you have any exciting projects in the works?

DG: I like to work on several projects at once. So at the moment I’m working on one story where two kids investigate the weird goings-on at their school, another about a kid who builds a winning virtual soccer team, and one about a girl who discovers that her parents are actually pirates. I’m also working on a book for older readers where a teenager learns how to go into other people’s dreams.

CC: Thank you, Doug!

— Eliza Leahy, Associate Editor

2015 Highlightstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01156fbb1c3d970c01b8d18a9562970c2016-01-01T07:30:00-06:002016-01-01T07:30:00-06:00Happy New Year, book lovers! As I write this on New Year's Eve Day, I'm feeling a bit sentimental as I reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead. There were many highlights for Capstone in 2015 — too many to list here. But I thought...Eliza Leahy

Happy New Year, book lovers!

As I write this on New Year's Eve Day, I'm feeling a bit sentimental as I reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead. There were many highlights for Capstone in 2015 — too many to list here. But I thought I'd share a sampling of a few of our proudest moments . . .

We celebrated the five-year anniversary of Katie Woo!

Author and illustrator Nancy Carlson was selected for the first Capstone Fellowship in children's literature. She spent a month at the Anderson Center in Red Wing working on new projects.

Two Capstone titles were selected for the Children’s Choices 2015 reading list, a cooperative project of the International Literacy Association (formerly International Reading Association) and the Children’s Book Council — Because I Stubbed My Toe by Shawn Byous and The Dark Ladyfrom the Sherlock, Lupin, and Me series.

Batman Science was not only included on the prestigious 2015 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers reading list, but was also on the Top Ten Quick Picks list, one of only three nonfiction titles to receive this honor!

Additionally, we participated in many fun volunteer events, including handing out free books to St. Paul Public School students with the summer food truck lunch program and helping kindergarteners at a Minneapolis elementary school write and illustrate their own books! We launched the Capstone Cookie Club, and began having FUN meetings (which include candy, board games, and intense coloring sessions!) to help us brainstorm book ideas. We had countless good Thursday Lunches, craft and bookstore outings, and — of course — did lots and lots of hard, rewarding work.

We're looking forward to sharing more books with you in 2016. In the meantime, we wish you lots of good reads!